Five members of a Robeson County drug trafficking organization that flooded eastern North Carolina with cocaine, marijuana, and crack have been hit with federal prison time in a sweeping takedown tied to one of the region’s most entrenched narcotics networks. The ring, which operated under the radar for years, moved kilos of drugs through rural supply chains, drawing the attention of federal agents and triggering a multi-agency crackdown.
MITCHELL RAY LOCKLEAR, 55, of Maxton, North Carolina, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release. As a central figure in the conspiracy, prosecutors say LOCKLEAR coordinated distribution and managed logistics across county lines. TIMMY LLOYD HUNT, 43, also of Maxton, received 120 months behind bars and 3 years of supervised release for his role in transporting and distributing controlled substances.
BRANDON DARRIS LOCKLEAR, 36, and ARCHIE LYNN STRICKLAND, 41, of Fairmont, North Carolina, each received 60-month sentences and 3 years of supervised release. Both were found to have facilitated drug transactions and maintained secure locations for storage and distribution. TORREY LOCKLEAR, 38, of Maxton, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release, marking the lowest penalty among the five but still reflecting his involvement in the conspiracy.
The defendants were named in an Indictment filed on April 11, 2017, charging them with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, cocaine, and cocaine base (crack). Law enforcement sources say surveillance, wiretaps, and controlled buys helped dismantle the network, which exploited rural routes and familial ties to maintain operational secrecy across Robeson and neighboring counties.
The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Critical support came from the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the State Bureau of Investigation, the North Carolina National Guard, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Four additional defendants remain pending sentencing in the ongoing case. Assistant United States Attorney Lawrence J. Cameron prosecuted the case for the government. Chief U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III handed down the sentences today in Raleigh federal court, underscoring the DOJ’s continued push to dismantle regional drug networks with organized crime ties.
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Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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